Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1887-12-22
THE CAPITAL.
THE SENATE DISCUSSES HOLIDAYS
AND SURPLUS.
Plumb Goes For the Presidents
Policy-Chaplain Blake Knocked
Out-Pensions-Et
ESPECIAL DISPATCHES TO TEE sEoonD-UMoN.l

Senate.

uon was offered, which was adopted, in
structing the Committee on Privileges and
Elections. TO inquire into the expediency of
the adoption by the Senate for the guild
ance of the Executives of the several States
OF the form of credential of election as
United States Senators.
The resolution offered yesterday by But
Ter for the appointment of a select COM
mittee of five 10 investigate the condition
OF tive civilized tribes of Indians was
adopted.
The resolution offered by Beck on the
18th inst, directing the Posfofffce Commit
tee to inquire into the advisability of re-
ducing the rate of letter postage to l cent,
was referred to that committee
Dawes bill to amend the law concerning
the Commission OF Fish and Fisheries,
which provides for the appointment by the
President of perlsns Tith scientific and
practical acquaintance with fish and fish
cries as Commissioners, at a salary of
50, Q0O, such person not to hold any other
United States or State office, was passed
SOMETHING ABOUT THE SURPLUS.
Allison called up the holiday recess res
olution and moved its adoption.
Plumb thought there was no reason why
Congress should adjourn for the HOLIDAYS.
He referred to the Hughes resolution that
Congress should not adjourn until some
disposition of the Treasury surplus was
made, and said he didn't agree with the
Presidents statement that the response
blilty of non-action in the matter of the
surplus would rest with Congress The
primary responsibility for the condition of
the Treasury rested with the President.
who had totally disregarded the Law which
required him TO spend the surplus in the
purchase of national debts The President
in his message omitted to state that the
last Congress passed law requiring him
affirmatively to pay out $10,O00,000 a
month in the discharge of the public debt,
and that the President had put that bill in
his pocket, thus preventing its becoming a
law. The Secretary of the Treasury was
to-day depositing S400000O0 of alleged
surplus with the national banks to be
loaned to the people at such rates
as their necessity might compel them
10 pay. Bonds of the United
States could be purchased at a
rate which would yield q per cent,
and yet, instead of using a part of the sur
plus for that purpose, it was given to the
national banks to be used for their profit.
The President had forgotten that the river
and harbor bill, which appropriated $14,-
100000, had failed-not because of anv
lack of action by Congress. A deficiency
bill covering over $50, 900, 600 had also failed
at the last session because of the neglect of
the Democratic majority in the House, and
these two sums would have made a very
comfortable addition to the current funds
of the people at this jQncture. He Plumb
never did agree with the Republican policy
of the Treasury Department, but that
policy was not under the suspicion of be-
ing unduly influenced by the New York
banks. Just rs fast as there was a surplus
of Sl0,OO0,OO0 in the Treasury, under the
Republican administration, it had been
put out in the discharge of obligations of
the United States. 1t never had been paid
out after consultation with the officers of
the New York banks. The trouble with
the present Administration was that it had
| no eye for anything except what related to
the banking interests OF New York citv.
He presumed the adjournment resolution
| would pass, but believed it would not be
with fair regard to the public interests.
Beck said that such recess was usual, and
he did not see why the Senate should 90
into discussion OF the Presidents uolicv.
when they had all next year before them.
But there were some things which had
been overlooked by the Senator from
Kansas. He had not told the country that
the policy of the Republican party. by i'm
posing and maintaining uureasOnably high
taxation, had produced The Treasury sur
plus, and that the same party was deter
mined to hold it there, or to waste it in
such schemes IS the Republican party
might desire.
Dolph argued that If the proper appro-
priatiOnS were made for rivers aud harbors,
public buildings, coast-line fortifications,
the dependent pensioners, encouragement
Of American commerce, and for the Nicar.
auguan Canal, there would be no surplus
in the Treasury, and he though that such a
policy was to be preferred 10 a reduction of
the tariff
Vest said, in reference to what he called
Dolph's solicitude for building up the
American marine. that there was a bill
pending in behalf of the Red Star Line
steamships from Philadelphia The line
is owned entirely by American citizens,
giving the privilege of sailing sixteen steam.
ships under the American flag in order
to carry it to foreign ports, and that not
one of the Republican Senators would
record his vote in favor OF that bill The
Senator from Oregon, with all his solici-
tude for the American merchant marine,
would not vote for ii. And WHY? Be
cause the Republican Senators did not pro-
pose to make break in the solid compact
which they had made with the protected
industries of the country, BY tariff legisla-
ton. They feared lest a crevasse might be
created in that long line of protected in
dustrles which nigh result in q deluge.
STEWARDS STRONG POINT.
Stewart was satisfied, from the discussion
to day, that Congress ought not to adjourn
for the holidays. AS to the surplus, he
was sure it would continue to be locked
up, if the only remedy was that suggested
by the President-the reduction of the
tariff. The issue presented to the Ameri-
| can people by the President was, whether
it would stop doing its own work or hire it
out. Nations, as well as individuals, got
rich by doing their own work. He was
in favor of Congress remaining in session,
and would vote against the resolution.
Allison said it could not promote the
! public interests by remaining in session
while the House was in its present unor-
ganized condition. There were three ways
! of getting rid of the surplus. One was
| the way presented by the Senator from
| Kansas. Another was to increase the
| appropriations, and the third was to
modify the tax law Revenue measures
/ had to originate in the House, and from
| the beginning of 1885 till now no revenue
measure had come from the House, and
none would come, certainly, before the 4th
! of January. Therefore, he did not see
what public interests could be advanced or
promoted by refusing the House the ad-
| journment which it asked
Plumb said that the House could not
| adjourn without the concurrence of the
! Senate.
After some further discussion the resolu-
| ton was c0ncurred in--ayes 81, noes 10.
The Blair educational bill was taken up
as unfinished business, and after an execu-
| tive session the Senate adjourned.
House.
! WASHINGTON, December 2lst.-Randall,
! from the Committee on Rules, submitted a
partial report. The report recommends the
adoption Of the rules of the Forty ninth